Pencil-sharpener.



J. L. ALKIRE.

PENCIL SHARPENER.

APPLICATION FILED 11111.17, 1912.

1,051,658. Patented Jan.28,1913.

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NITE il JOHN L. ALKIRE, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PENCIL-SHARPENER.

T0 alt whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN L. ALKIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pencil-Sharpeners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pencil sharpeners of the type adapted to be carried on the pencil, and its object resides in the provision of a sharpener of simple construct-ion and great practicability in use, by which a pencil may be quickly and easily pointed without danger of breaking the exposed portion of the graphite.

The improved sharpener is constructed so that the chisel by which the wood and the graphite of the pencil are removed in the operation of pointing the same, may be easily detached from the body portion of the article for sharpening purposes, after it has become dulled by constant use.

I am aware that many patents have been granted on sharpeners of the class to which this invention appertains and since filing my application of Patent No. 614,672 on March 15, 1911, I have almost continuously experimented to obtain a sharpener which will be of practical value and may be used with equally satisfactory results as the expensive rotary sharpeners at present in use in large business oflices. While conducting these experiments, I proved that the two principal requirements of a practical sharpener are that the pencil is always maintained at the same angle to the cutting edge of the article and that said edge may be readily sharpened when it has become dulled. In addition to these requirements itis as a matter of course, of considerable importance that the article he so constructed that it may be produced at a low cost and that it may be easily operated by persons of little or no experience.

With the above objects in View, I have provided the construction shown in the accompanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are similarly designated and in which- Figure 1, represents my improved sharpener held in operative relation to a pencil in the hand of the operator, Fig. 2, a plan view of the sharpener drawn to an exaggerated scale, Fig. 3, a side elevation of the same, partially in section and, Fig. 4, a

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. January 17, 1912.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

Serial No. 671,644.

transverse section taken along the line e4, Fig. 2.

My improved pencil sharpener is composed of two cooperative members designated in the drawings by the reference nu.- merals 2 and 3; one of these members, 2, consists of a sheath made of brass or other suitable resilient material, and the other member, 3, being made of steel, comprises a resilient chisel 4 formed integrally at the end of a sleeve 5. The member 2 has at its upper side a longitudinal opening and at the ed es thereof two oppositely disposed lips (i which extend obliquely with relation to the longitudinal axis of the sheath for the purpose of holding the chisel 1 in the same position and against upward movement when the two members are assembled as will be hereinafter more fully explained. The sheath is formed at its rear end with an arcual recess which provides a seat 7 for the pencil when it is held in engagement with the cutting edge 8 of the chisel l, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. This seat together with the edge 8 determines the unvariable position of the pencil at an angle which while permitting quick and easy whittling of the wood of the pencil positively prevents breaking of the graphite of the same. The sheath 2 is furthermore provided with an inwardly extending integral spring 9 which in the operation, aids in maintaining the pencil in the operative position, and the chisel has at the end of its sleeve 5, an upturned rest 10 for the thumb of the operator. When the two members 2 and 3 are assembled, the recessed end of the sheath extends into and through the sleeve 5 on the chisel t and the latter is inserted beneath the lips 6 with which it is held in engagement by its inherent elasticity.

To sharpen the pencil, 12, the latter is placed in contact with both the seat 7 and the cutting-edge 8 of the chisel and while the sheath is held in one hand of the operator, the thumb of the other hand which holds the pencil, engages the rest 10. With the parts in this position, the pencil is moved longitudinally against the cutting edge 8 which thus removes the wood, and at the end of each such movement, the pencil is partially rotated. lVhen the edge of the chisel has become dull, the latter may be readily separated from the sheath and sharpened,

and the entire article, when not in use, may be carried on the pencil, on which it is held in place by the resiliency of the sheath and the pressure of the spring 9 which forms part thereof. The slant of the pencil and in consequence the length of the cut may be readily regulated by changing the position of the chisel relative to the sheath, it being understood that the closer said edge is positioned to the rear end of the lips 6, the shorter the cut will be and if so desired the said lips may be provided with graduations as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. In a pencil sharpener, a cylindrical sheath-member having a longitudinal opening, a recess providing a pencil-seat opposite to the said opening, at one of its ends, and lips extending oppositely from the edges of said opening obliquely with relation to the longitudinal axis of the member, and a longitudinally flexible, adjustable chisel-member engaging the under surface of said lips.

2. In a pencil-sharpener, a cylindrical sheath-member having a longitudinal opening, a recess providing a pencil-seat opposite to the said opening, at one of its ends, and lips extending oppositely from the edges of said opening obliquely with relation to the longitudinal axis of the member, and a sleeve slidably fitted over the recessed end of the sheath-member and having a chisel in 1engagement with the under surface of said ips.

3. In a pencil sharpener, a cylindrical sheath-member having a longitudinal opening, a recess providing a pencil-seat opposite to the said opening, at one of its ends, and lips extending oppositely from the edges of said opening obliquely with relation to the longitudinal axis of the member, and a sleeve slidably fitted over the recessed end of the sheath-member and having a longitudinally flexible chisel in engagement with the under surface of said lips.

4. In a pencil sharpener, a cylindrical sheathmember having a longitudinal opening, a recess providing a pencil-seat opposite to the said opening, at one of its ends, and lips extending oppositely from the edges of said opening, obliquely with relation to the longitudinal axis of the member, and a sleeve slidably fitted over the recessed end of the sheath-member and having a longitudinally flexible, integral chisel in engagement with the under surface of said lips.

5. In a pencil sharpener, a cylindrical sheath-member having a longitudinal opening, a recess providing a pencil-seat opposite to the said opening at one of its ends, lips extending oppositely from the edges of the opening obliquely with relation to the axis of the member, and a spring formed integral with the member opposite to the said opening, and a longitudinally flexible, adjustable chisel member engaging the undersurface of said lips.

6. In a pencil sharpener, a cylindrical sheath-member having a longitudinal opening, a recess providing a pencil-seat opposite to the said opening, at one of its ends, and lips extending oppositely from the edges of said opening, and a sleeve slidably fitted over the recessed end of the sheath-member and having a chisel in engagement with the under surface of said lips, the said sleeve extending beyond the said end of the sheathmember to be engaged by the thumb of the user.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. ALKIRE.

WVitnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, L. RHoADns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

